Koontz, Dean-Odd Thomas- Informal Buddy Read-Starts January 2, 2018

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This thread is open to discuss Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz




Synopsis
"The dead don't talk. I don't know why." But they do try to communicate, with a short-order cook in a small desert town serving as their reluctant confidant. Odd Thomas thinks of himself as an ordinary guy, if possessed of a certain measure of talent at the Pico Mundo Grill and rapturously in love with the most beautiful girl in the world, Stormy Llewellyn.

Maybe he has a gift, maybe it's a curse, Odd has never been sure, but he tries to do his best by the silent souls who seek him out. Sometimes they want justice, and Odd's otherworldly tips to Pico Mundo's sympathetic police chief, Wyatt Porter, can solve a crime. Occasionally they can prevent one. But this time it's different.

A mysterious man comes to town with a voracious appetite, a filing cabinet stuffed with information on the world's worst killers, and a pack of hyena-like shades following him wherever he goes. Who the man is and what he wants, not even Odd's deceased informants can tell him. His most ominous clue is a page ripped from a day-by-day calendar for August 15.

Today is August 14.

In less than twenty-four hours, Pico Mundo will awaken to a day of catastrophe. As evil coils under the searing desert sun, Odd travels through the shifting prisms of his world, struggling to avert a looming cataclysm with the aid of his soul mate and an unlikely community of allies that includes the King of Rock 'n' Roll. His account of two shattering days when past and present, fate and destiny converge is the stuff of our worst nightmares, and a testament by which to live: sanely if not safely, with courage, humor, and a full heart that even in the darkness must persevere.

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

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[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

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[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

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[Laura]

Yeah, my copy finally came in, but I 'm going to wait until the start date as I have a few other books I want to finish. The cover looks intriguing!

[Markie]

I just got both the audible and kindle editions!!! I’m in!!!

[Taya]

How funny. I was finally going to start reading this series today.

[Laura]

Awesome! The more the merrier! I 'm going to start too:-)

[Brooke]

I’ve read through chapter 11 (page 84) so far. I like it! The MC is 20-years-old and the story is told in first person perspective, which in my opinion makes it feel like a faster read.

I’m intrigued by the sorry so far and will go through this quickly. Partly because it goes fast, but partly because I realized today that it is due back at the library in 2 days. 😳

[Laura]

Brooke wrote: "I’ve read through chapter 11 (page 84) so far. I like it! The MC is 20-years-old and the story is told in first person perspective, which in my opinion makes it feel like a faster read.

I’m intri..."

Did you read your Alice Hoffman book yet? I have the 1st one but I was waiting for Alissa to grab it so we can buddy read it.

[Brooke]

Not yet! I haven’t read Practical Magic either, but I wasn’t sure if that was necessary since Rules of Magic is a prequel. Either way, I’ll read one or both of them with you.

[Laura]

Great!
Oh when I look them up it says Practical Magic is #1 and Rules of Magic is #2.

Do we want try for the 8th for Practical Magic? I 'm still in queue for Rules of Magic.

[Brooke]

The 8th works for me! That will give me time this week to finish a few I have in progress.

[Brooke]

I read chapters 12-30 last night (up to page 216, or just past the halfway mark). It is due back at the library today, so most likely I'll be paying a small fine because even if I finish it this evening, I won't be able to take it back until tomorrow.

(view spoiler)[I love the banter and overall conversation between Odd and his friends. Odd is a great character, wiser at 20 than most people at 50. Since this is my first Koontz novel, I'm not sure if this is his usual writing style, but I love it and will read more for sure. He has a way of setting a scene or describing a character in a poetic manner without using big words or sounding pretentious. And the way Odd describes his love of Stormy? *swoon*

The book is written as Odd writing a story. Every once in a while Odd will say something foreboding that reminds me of a voiceover in a movie or TV show. Based on his statement about midway through the book, I have a really bad feeling that Odd is going to lose at least one of the most important people to him. I just hope it isn't Stormy!

I would have read longer last night, but I was worried the book would trigger nightmares. It isn't super scary, but the suspense and the bodachs are a lot to have in your head right before falling asleep. (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

I 'm on chapter 2. I will catch up!

[Laura]

Here is our new one - Practical Magic

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Laura]

I had to switch over to the BOM the last 2 days as it was my turn to do DQ's. I 'll be back to reading this one tomorrow!

[Alissa]

I started it and I agree with Brooke that the writing style helps the story move along faster.

I’m also enjoying it so far. Very interested to see what is going to happen.

I’m on Chapter 9. Hopefully I will get to put a big dent in now before bed and tomorrow.

[Brooke]

I finished this last night. Wow.

chapters 31 to the end
(view spoiler)[I was completely caught off guard when the dead guy in Odd's tub was Robertson! I'm not easily fooled by plot twists, so kudos to Koontz on that one.

The scenes between Odd and his parents were so sad. I can't imagine having such horrible parents like that, and yet Odd turned out to be so rational, even with his "gift."

The last 75 pages or so flew by because I could almost feel Odd's tension and stress about finding Robertson's partner in crime.

The ending was so sad! Earlier in the book I thought Stormy was doomed, but when Odd described their sweet moments together in the hospital, I thought it was okay. I realized she died about a paragraph before the reveal and was devastated. (hide spoiler)]

I will definitely read the next in the series at some point, but it might be a few weeks before I can get to it. I'm curious to see if the next book, Forever Odd, takes place shortly after this one or if there is a time jump.

[Laura]

I took my book with me to work on Friday and forgot it! I will get back to this one!

[Alissa]

Brooke wrote: "I read chapters 12-30 last night (up to page 216, or just past the halfway mark). It is due back at the library today, so most likely I'll be paying a small fine because even if I finish it this ev..."

I agree with you on all of that Brooke. It’s my first Koontz novel as well and I am enjoying it very much. I will definitely keep reading the series and maybe try some of his other stuff.

(view spoiler)[ I think Odd’s love of Stormy is so real that you can’t help but feel it through the writing where it leaps out at you.

I agree that someone important is going to die based on the whole Elvis touching him and the day is between his mom’s death and his death and we know Odd isn’t dying.

I’ll be sad about a few characters if it’s them because he did such a good job of making them so real but I would be devastated if it’s Stormy of Little Ozzie (love him).


I’m looking forward to how it’s going to go down and hope it ends with fungus man dead or arrested. (hide spoiler)]

[Brooke]

I'm glad you are liking it, Alissa! Can't wait to see your comments after you finish.

[Alissa]

31 to end

(view spoiler)[ I agree with all you said Brooke. I am really bad at guessing the plot twists so I wasn’t surprised by any of it I just go with the flow.

It was like the sixth sense but in the book we knew he could see dead people and the author still tricked us. Very good writing!!

I was shocked by how awful his parents were. I don’t know how he has all the sense to still be normal but then e clearly see when all his friends come and get him to realize Stormy is gone. He has a great support system that has grounded him and made him so awesome.

I hope we get to meet the aunt later in the series and I hope one day he is able to move on and find happiness with someone just not too soon.

I’ll probably be sad for awhile with Stormy dying in this one. (hide spoiler)]

Definitely looking forward to the next one I’m off to watch the movie before I start my next book. It’s on Netflix if you are interested.

[Brooke]

I didn't even realize it was a movie. I'm going to have to check that out soon!

[Laura]

I'm so far behind on some of these buddy reads. I have too much on the go. I need to get to this one and Beneath a Scarlet Sky

[Melissa]

anyone still interested in starting this one that hasn't yet?? I'm down to do this one too. It's been on my TBR list for a long time

[Laura]

Melissa, I suspect everyone will come back and chat with you. I 'm hoping to start it this weekend, but my good intentions may change depending on time!

[Brooke]

I found the 2nd book, Forever Odd, at the used bookstore for $2, so of course I had to get it. I started reading it last night and got about 1/3 of the way through it. The style is the same as Odd Thomas, and Koontz jumps right into the mystery of the story in the first few pages.

[Alissa]

Nice...I will try and get it and catch you!!

[Laura]

I found this book ... and comes out next month. Either of you interested?

I'm still 2nd in queue for


Sorry I 'm not getting caught up on at the moment. (It's still on the pile...)

[Brooke]

I'm still interested in . I have a hard copy, so when you get your copy Laura just let me know.

I'm definitely interested in Kristin Hannah's new book!

[Laura]

Brooke wrote: "I'm still interested in . I have a hard copy, so when you get your copy Laura just let me know.

I'm definitely interested in Kristin Hannah's new book!"

My mistake... Kristin Hannah's new book is out now. Geri and I are discussing a March date in the buddy read's thread.

I see everytime I go to the drug store... its driving me crazy walking past and waiting for my library copy. I suspect I will cave and buy it:-)

[Brooke]

Laura wrote: "Kristin Hannah's new book is out now. Geri and I are discussing a March date in the buddy read's thread. ..."

March is perfect for me.

[Laura]

Awesome!